Paul Scholes, the Manchester United midfielder, will have a knee operation on Thursday and is expected to be out of action for three months.

The 32-year-old reported the injury during training prior his side's Champions League win over Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday.

Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager confirmed on Friday a first scan proved inconclusive - but a second examination today has confirmed ligament damage.

Losing such a key player for any length of time would come as a significant setback, particularly one as influential as Scholes, although his absence will be partly compensated by the return of Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick

Scholes has already made an amazing comeback from career-threatening eye surgery to play a major part in last season's title triumph and while he had only scored once in 12 appearances so far this term, few were discounting him as a massive influence on the current campaign.

It means the former England star will miss a minimum of 13 Premier League games, starting with Saturday's visit to Arsenal and including the crucial trip to Liverpool on December 16, plus the start of United's FA Cup campaign.

However, Scholes will be hoping to be back in action when his side resume their Champions League quest at the knockout stage towards the end of February.